The Center for Environmental Education

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Meet the Staff

Our staff members draw upon interdisciplinary backgrounds to develop programs, exhibits and related materials for the Center and the Robert A. Hefner Museum of Natural History. We welcome you to call, email or mail us with questions or comments.

Donald Kaufman

Dr. Kaufman serves as Director of the Robert A. Hefner Museum of Natural History. With more than three decades of experience in education and environmental science, Don has taught elementary students, undergraduates, graduate students and teachers. He has received three of Miami University's highest honors: the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, the E. Phillips Knox Teaching Award and the Distinguished Educator Award—College of Arts and Science. He also was named a Continental Lecturer by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). With co-author Cecilia Franz Berg, Don has written The Biosphere: Protecting Our Global Environment (Kendall/Hunt, 2005), an introductory environmental science textbook now in its fourth edition. He also serves as executive director of The Oxford Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging and improving environmental education and conservation. He has developed, in conjunction with the Environmental Education Councl of Ohio, a certification for Miami undergraduate students to become environmental educators. Don enjoys gardening, fishing, and going for walks.

Cecilia Franz Berg

Don Koller

Julia E. Robinson

Ms. Cecilia Berg serves as the director of The Center for Environmental Education. Cecilia holds a Masters of Technical and Scientific Communication with an emphasis in environmental science and a BA in English Literature. She has more than 20 years of experience as a technical and grant writer for numerous clients, including Cincinnati Sportsmedicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, independent surgeons and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. In addition, she co-authored with Don Kaufman The Biosphere: Protecting Our Global Environment (Kendall/Hunt, 2005). Cecilia loves reading, baking, hiking, and just being outside.

Don Koller is seasoned naturalist, willing to share this expertise with all visitors to the museum. He brings to the museum a wealth of knowledge of Ohio natural histories, his love of teaching (30 years in elementary), photography, and wood working skills. Please see his beautiful scroll-cut bookmarks made of dogwood at the entrance to the museum.

Julia Robinson is an environmental educator at the Robert A. Hefner Museum of Natural History. Mrs. Robinson received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Purdue University. She completed a Masters of Arts in Elementary Education with an emphasis on the integration of math and reading at the University of South Carolina. She taught 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades and Title 1 Reading. Julie facilitated many teacher workshops helping teachers to establish publishing companies and to plan hands-on science units at their individual schools. She served as director of Edwards Memorial Nursery School in Liberty, IN for five years before joining The Hefner. Julie enjoys painting slates and gourds and canning and freezing fruits and vegetables from the family's garden and fruit trees.